The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-11
WAS NOT SAVED.
The Influence of a Salvation Army
Banjo.
From the BROOKLYN Eagle.

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
A TALL angular individual, with Van
Buren, silk hat artistically tipped over one
eye and bearing the air of "a very bad
man" sauntered listlessly up the aisle in the
Salvation Army barracks, in the old Re
formed church, in Harrison street. near
Tompkins place, last evening just after the
services had commenced.
"Git over and gil me room" he snapped,
as he wedged himself into the end of a seat
next to a fat man with goggles. "rm
bad man and I've come here to see this
show"
Capt. Alice Terren was in charge of the
meeting, and was in the act of sending
forth an exhortation burdened with fire and
blood when the angular individual seated
himself. The bad man listened to her for a
few moments and then yelled, ''Shut up, or
I'll clean out the shebangln The Captain
shut up. Then Lieut.. Walsh, who thlmps
the banjo as an alleged accompaniment to
the singing, stepped to the front of the stage
and began drumming an air that evidently
grated harshly on the bad mans nerves. He
eyed his tormentor moment and then drew
a huge sef-cocking revolver which he DELHI
erately leveled at the peace destroyer. He
didn't say a word, but there was a sudden
confusion of chair legs and vanishing hui
manity, and all that was left to mark the
spot where he had been was fiat-chested
banjo with broken neck and dismantled
strings, The bad man quoted down. Then
a sweet-voiced maiden, recent recruit,
sought to soothe him by the richness of her
voice. The bad man rather liked it and
was soon lulled to sleep. The meeting went
on uudisturbed for half an hour. Then the
bad man awoke with a screech and an
no ed rea that 4nord he .y wanted ito to
of fnnaIa co,,l CO verc 70 hic side apd tho
doctrine of salvation was copiously applied
The result was astonishing. The bad man
asserted that he was saved and wanted to be
received into the ranks of the army, provid-
ed he be made General. Everything was
arranged to his apparent satisfaction as re-
CARDS the rank he was to assume and he was
requested to come forward for PRAYERS He
shuffied with faltering steps up to the plat
form and there knelt on one knee while
Captain Alice and her able corps :of lieu.
tenants poured forth their appeals for his
salvation.
This was the situation of affairs as Detec-
tive Gray. of the Butler street precinct,
walked into the barracks. The praying
continued and all went well until he of the
banjo ventured to return. He resurrected
his disrnantled instrument from the chair
legs and struck up a tuneful dirge. This
was more than the bad mans nerves could
possibly stand. Out flashed revolver, and
its cleaning barrel was leveled at
the heart of the unfortunate musician.
There was a flash and a report and
Welsh fell to the stage, as everyone thought,
mortally wounded. A panic ensued and
there was rush for the door, Again the
murjlerous revolver cracked spitefully and
the shrieRs of the famales became louder and
more piercing But the voice of the bad
man could be heard clearly above the din.
"I'm bad man from the Chain Gang in
Il Il It'll
Whoopl Clear out o. here or I'll fill yer
skins so full of holes they won't hold water"
Again the revolver snapped, but for some
reason did not go off. Detective Gray was
trying all this time to force his way through
the crowd. He succeeded in reaching a
clear space at last and spraug upon the man.
A struggle ensued. The man with the pis-
tol was fully six feet high and of powerful
build. Detective Gray is somewhat
shorter man, but is heavily built and very
muscular. To and fro the struggling men
swayed, falling over benches and chairs, but
the officer never let go his grasp. The re-
volver was knocked from the mans hand
during the struggle. Suddenly Gray's fist
sought the bad mans jugglar and the strug-
the Butler street Police Station
and there registered as George
w. Parsons He admitted that
he had been convicted several times in New
York and had been a member of what was
formerly known as the famous Chain Gang
which infested the East river docks The
man was arraigned before Justice Massey
on charge of carrying revolver without
permit. 1t was supposed that some of
the Salvation Army people would be on
hand TO prefer a charge of disturbing
religious worship, but as none came he was
sent to Jail for ten days and his pistol for
feited. He had over fifty cartridges in his
pockets when arrested.